Heat-insulating wall for a refrigerating device

ABSTRACT

A heat-insulating wall for a refrigerating device, the heat insulating wall having an exterior wall and an interior wall that surround a cavity which includes a heat-insulating layer. A profiled region is arranged between the lateral edges of the exterior wall and/or the interior wall to increase a rigidity of the heat-insulating wall.

The invention relates to a heat-insulating wall for a refrigerating device, in particular household refrigerating device, as claimed in the preamble of claim 1. A wall of this type can be a door or a housing wall of a refrigerator or freezer for instance.

In the field of household refrigerating devices, these walls usually have a solid exterior wall formed from sheet metal and an interior wall deep-drawn from plastic, said walls being connected to one another at their edges in order to delimit a cavity. This cavity is filled with a foam material in order to form an insulating layer. This design is quite simple, nevertheless high demands resulting from the application area and the competition are thus placed on these walls.

The heat-insulating walls, which are used in refrigerating devices, must feature a certain stability, since they must be suited to supporting an often considerable weight, since the trays are usually fastened to the interior walls of the housing walls of refrigerating devices, upon which trays the refrigerated product is stored. Door tray elements adjusted to the interior wall are also frequently attached to the refrigerating door, said door tray elements enabling small items or bottles to be stored on the interior of the door.

Enormous pricing pressure prevails in household devices, in which the heat-insulating walls are used. The devices and thus also their components must therefore be increasingly more favorable both in terms of material costs and also assembly. Accordingly, the aim is to keep the material portion as low as possible. The thinnest sheets possible are therefore used for the exterior walls. However, to afford the walls the necessary stability, these relatively unstable walls are provided with stiffening rails, which extend along the entire walls or along particularly neuralgic regions, like the fastening regions or compartments or supports. These rails must however be integrated into the wall or housing wall structure and are fastened there, which in turn signifies an outlay which would preferably be avoided.

The object underlying the invention is to provide a heat-insulating wall for a refrigerating device, in particular household refrigerating device, which has adequate rigidity with the minimum possible material usage.

The object is achieved in accordance with the invention by a heat-insulating wall for a refrigerating device having the features of claim 1.

In accordance with the invention, planar components of the heat-insulating wall are profiled at least in regions. The profiling relates to supporting parts such as the exterior and/or interior wall, which can achieve increased rigidity as a result of the profiling, so that adequate stability of the heat-insulating wall can be achieved with minimal material outlay and without additional stiffening elements, like stiffening rails, having to be used. As a result of the profiling, extremely thin, material-saving exterior and/or interior walls can be used, which are consequently able to configure a rigid wall which is suited for use as a holder for the support of refrigerated product shelves, such as trays or door trays.

The heat-insulating wall sheet metals are preferably profiled at least in regions. The surface of the exterior wall of the refrigerating device housing or the refrigerating device door is often formed from metal, steel or stainless steel. These sheet metals are particularly well suited to introducing surface profiles. Within the scope of the manufacturing process of the sheets, the profiling can be realized particularly advantageously by means of profile rollers. A profiling of the exterior wall is also advantageous in that an individual tone with respect to aesthetic factors can be added to the refrigerating device.

In a preferred embodiment, elongated profilings are used, which extend over the height of the wall. As a result, the heat-insulated wall obtains increased rigidity particularly in the direction of gravity, which is the main active direction of the forces caused by the refrigerated product shelves fastened to the wall.

In a preferred embodiment, the profiled wall is embodied as a trapezoidal or rectangular wall. In other words, the profiling effects a planar pattern on the wall, at least in regions, said planar pattern equating to an inclined line in the cross-section of the wall, said inclined line consisting of trapezoidal or rectangular elements arranged in adjacent rows. In particular, the trapezoidal configuration of the profiling affords the wall a particularly high rigidity.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the profiling takes the form of waves, so that the cross-section of the profiled wall shows a wavy line, in other words a curved line. This form of profiling produces a somewhat less stable wall than the profiling with inclined lines, the wall is however easier to clean since a wavy surface does not have edges but is instead relatively smooth.

At least 60% of a wall surface is preferably profiled. In other words, the rigidity is increased over the majority of the wall surface of an exterior and/or interior wall so that it is possible to dispense with additional stiffening elements. The overall wall can thus assume the functionality of a supporting wall. It is also sufficiently stable to fasten refrigerated product shelves thereto, although it is also possible to work with extremely thin walls. The edge regions of the wall surface are preferably not profiled, so that on this smooth surface, simple wall connections can be established with one another or with other components in the heat-insulating wall, in particular with a cover strip delimiting the cavity of the wall from above or below.

The profilings preferably extend across the entire wall surface. In terms of manufacture, this is often simplest, since when introducing the profiling by means of roller technology, the entire wall can be easily guided by the same profile roller, which is ideally configured such that it can profile variably long walls of different refrigerating device models.

If at least one edge region of the wall surface remains profile-free, this facilitates the manufacture of a tight connection between the wall surface and another housing part, in particular with the afore-cited cover strip. The profile-free edge strips also facilitate the fastening of a hinge.

In a further preferred embodiment, the profilings are predominantly located in the regions of the exterior and/or interior wall of a heat-insulating wall, with which fastenings of refrigerated product shelves, such as trays or door trays or suchlike engage. In these regions, an increased wall stability is often needed in order to prevent a deformation of the heat-insulating wall as a result of the force effect of the weight of the loaded refrigerated product shelves. In this case, the wall is expediently selected to be so strong, in respect of its material strength so that its rigidity is sufficient to be able to ensure the supporting function of the wall per se and/or this can be effected by way of stiffening elements. The profiling here provides additional rigidity in the neuralgic regions. Here the wall is only profiled in regions, the remainder of the wall is smooth and thus low-maintenance.

Other developments of the invention are reproduced in the subclaims.

Further details and advantages of the invention as well as developments thereof result in conjunction with the description of exemplary embodiments, which are explained with reference to the drawings, in which;

FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional representation of a door exterior wall according to the prior art,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional representation of a profiled door exterior wall;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a profiled refrigerator door;

FIG. 4 shows a fragmentary perspective view of a profiled refrigerator door according to a preferred development of the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a section through the refrigerator door from FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 shows a section through a refrigerator door according to another development of the invention.

Elements with the same function and mode of operation are provided with the same reference characters in FIGS. 1 to 6.

FIG. 1 shows a section through a refrigerator door 1 of the prior art, which comprises a plastic interior wall 2 molded by means of deep drawing, a heat-insulating layer 3 and an exterior wall 4 connected to the interior wall 2 to form a door body. The exterior wall 4 formed from steel metal sheet is connected to the interior wall 2 to form a rigid structure by means of the dampening effect of the insulating layer 3 formed by foaming polyethane in the intermediate space delimited by the interior wall 2 and the exterior wall 4. Stiffening rails 5 a, 5 b, 5 c and 5 d are preferably molded into the foamed insulation layer 3, which transfer adequate stability to the refrigerator door 1 although both the plastic interior wall 2 and also the steel exterior wall 5 are embodied extremely thinly and in a material-saving fashion. This known structure underlies the invention. Said structure is therefore above all necessary since the introduction of stiffening elements such as the steel rails 5 a, b, c and d in the manufacturing process is relatively complicated and the costs of such a refrigerator door 1 are thus inflated unnecessarily.

The inventive refrigerator door shown in FIG. 2, in particular refrigerator door 1, is likewise made of a plastic interior wall 2, a door exterior wall formed from sheet metal and a foam insulating layer 3 introduced therebetween. With this refrigerator door 1, it is however possible to dispense with the stiffening elements 5 a to d shown in FIG. 1, since the door exterior wall 4 has profilings which afford the refrigerator door 1 with the necessary rigidity. The profiling of the exterior wall 4 can be generated for instance within the scope of the manufacturing method by means of profiling rollers, which press the rectangular profile into the steel sheet of the exterior wall 4.

As shown in FIG. 3, the profilings 6 run across the entire length of the exterior wall 4 of the refrigerator door 1. This extended course of the elongated rectangular profile 6 produces a profile element 7, which includes the whole exterior wall 4 and thus the whole refrigerator door 1. As a result of these profilings 6, the exterior wall 4 and thus the whole refrigerator door 1 is, in the direction of gravity, afforded a rigidity and stability which clearly extend beyond those determined by the wall thickness of the exterior wall alone, said rigidity and stability ensuring that refrigerated product shelves can be attached to the door interior wall 2 (not shown here) without the refrigerator door 1 being overloaded as a result.

FIG. 4 shows a fragmentary view of a lower corner of a refrigerator door 1 according to a preferred further development of the invention. The foam material filling an inner cavity 8 of the door is omitted in FIG. 4, in order to be better able to show the details of the interior and exterior wall 2 and/or 4. A plurality of profile elements 6 in the form of vertically elongated fins with a round-arched cross-section is formed on the front side of the door, in the exterior wall 4 formed from sheet metal. The fins 6 succeed one another at equal distances without gaps and fill the front side of the door across essentially across its entire width, essentially completely from one lateral edge 9 to the opposing edge (not shown). Lateral flanks 10 connecting to the side edges 9, which are likewise formed in one piece from the sheet metal of the exterior wall 4, are free of profile elements: in the region of the lateral flanks 10, the exterior wall is inherently reinforced by the presence of the edges 9, 11 delimiting the flank 10. An edge strip 12 which is essentially parallel to the front side of the exterior wall 4 connects to the edge 11, to which edge strip the interior wall 2 is fastened in a foam-tight fashion, for instance by the use of adhesive.

The profile elements 6 extend across essentially the whole height of the exterior wall 4 with the exception of edge strips 13 on their upper and/or lower edge. These edge strips 13 are likewise left in order to ensure a foam-tight engagement of the exterior wall 4 into a groove 14 of a lower cover strip 15, which, in connection with the interior and exterior wall 2 and/or 4, seal the interior 8 from below.

An upper sealing strip (not shown) which is a mirror-image of the lower cover strip 15 closes the upper end of the interior 8.

In the vicinity of the lateral edge 9, two screw holes 16 are formed in the lower edge strip 13 and the upper edge strip in each instance. As apparent in particular in the section of FIG. 5 running vertically through such a screw hole 16, the exterior wall 4 in the vicinity of the screw holes 16 is reinforced on the foam side by a backing piece 17, in which a screw thread of a screw (not shown) screwed in from outside is fixed. A spacer plate 18 lies opposite the backing piece 17 on the exterior, likewise with screw holes, the thickness of which is marginally greater than an overhang of the lower cover strip 15 across the front side of the exterior wall 4. The spacer plate 18 thus prevents an L-shaped fitting part 19 fastened to its exterior with the aid of screws from pressing against the protruding edge of the lower cover strip 15 and negatively affecting or damaging its fit.

A horizontal limb 20 of the fitting part 19 extends at a slight distance along the bottom side of the cover strip 15.

The fitting part 19 is an integral part of a hinge for the pivotable suspension of the door 1. FIG. 5 shows this instance by means of a pivot pin 21 extending vertically upwards from the horizontal limb 20, said pivot pin engaging in a fixed bearing (not shown) on the body of the refrigerator. The fitting part 19 can naturally also be combined with any other hinge constructions, in order to obtain a pivotable suspension of the door 1.

FIG. 6 shows a horizontal partial section through a refrigerating device door according to a further configuration of the invention. While the configuration in FIGS. 4 and 5, in particular as a result of the fastening of the fitting part 19 to the door front side is predestined for an integrated refrigerating device, in which the exterior wall 4 is concealed behind a furniture panel, the configuration in FIG. 6 is above all provided for a refrigerating device with freely visible door. The exterior wall 4 is covered here with a film 22, which is rigid and passes over the fins 6 flush therewith.

Advantageously the expedient constructions of the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 6 can naturally transfer to any heat-insulating walls or wall parts of a household refrigerating device. A wall constructed in this manner can also be provided as a rear wall and/or side wall of a household refrigerating device for instance.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

-   1. Refrigerator door -   2. Interior wall -   3. Insulating layer -   4. Exterior wall -   5. Stiffening rails -   6. Rectangular profiling -   7. Profile element -   8. Interior -   9. Lateral edge -   10. Flank -   11. Edge -   12. Edge strips -   13. Edge strips -   14. Groove -   15. Cover strip -   16. Screw hole -   17. Backing part -   18. Spacer plate -   19. Fitting part -   20. Limb -   21. Joint pin -   22. Film 

1-17. (canceled)
 18. A heat-insulating wall for a refrigerating device, comprising: an exterior wall; an interior wall, the exterior wall and the interior wall surrounding a cavity; a heat-insulating layer disposed in the cavity; and a profiled region arranged between respective lateral edges of at least one of the exterior wall and the interior wall to increase a rigidity of the heat-insulating wall.
 19. The heat-insulating wall of claim 18, wherein the refrigerating device is a household refrigerating device.
 20. The heat-insulating wall of claim 18, wherein the heat-insulating wall is a door of a built-in refrigerating device.
 21. The heat-insulating wall of claim 18, wherein the profiled region comprises a plurality of profile elements.
 22. The heat-insulating wall of claim 21, wherein respective ones of the plurality of profile elements adjoin one another, and wherein the profiled region extends across a surface of the heat-insulating wall between lateral edges of the heat-insulating wall.
 23. The heat-insulating wall of claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of profile elements elongates in vertical direction.
 24. The heat-insulating wall of claim 21, wherein a respective cross-section of each of the plurality of profile elements forms an edgy line.
 25. The heat-insulating of claim 21, wherein a respective cross-section of each of the plurality of profile elements forms a curved line.
 26. The heat-insulating wall of claim 18, wherein the at least one of the exterior wall and the interior wall is made of metal.
 27. The heat-insulating wall of claim 18, wherein the at least one of the exterior wall and the interior all is made of plastic.
 28. The heat-insulating wall of claim 18, wherein the profiled region extends over at least 60% of a height of a respective wall surface of the at least one of the exterior wall and the interior wall.
 29. The heat-insulating wall of claim 28, wherein the profiled region extends over an entire height of the respective wall surface of the at least one of the exterior wall and the interior wall.
 30. The heat-insulating wall of claim 28, further comprising a respective planar edge strip of the at least one of the exterior wall and the interior wall delimiting top and bottom of the profiled region.
 31. The heat-insulating wall of claim 30, further comprising a door hinge that is fastened to the planar edge strip.
 32. The heat-insulating of claim 30, further comprising a cover strip delimiting the cavity, wherein the cover strip adjoins the planar edge strip.
 33. The heat-insulating wall of claim 18, wherein the profiled region is located in a region of a fastening of a refrigerated product shelf.
 34. The heat-insulating wall of claim 18, further comprising a cladding that covers the profiled region.
 35. A household refrigerating device, comprising: a heat-insulating wall having: an exterior wall; an interior wall, the exterior wall and the interior wall surrounding a cavity; a heat-insulating layer disposed in the cavity; and a profiled region arranged between respective lateral edges of at least one of the exterior wall and the interior wall to increase a rigidity of the heat-insulating wall. 